Let's talk...Radiation

With the recent earthquakes and nuclear plant failures in Japan, a new set of worries over radiation is taking over the globe. In my vicinity there are 3 large nuclear plants that if, God forbid, failed would cause the evacuation of 20 million people. Of course, with the evacuation of millions of people radiation exposure is imminent, which brings up a question…How much radiation can the human body take? Well…a lot! To put it this way, in one year we will be exposed to 2.0 mSv* of radiation, a CT Scan will give off 10 mSv per patient, and 50 mSv is the maximum yearly exposure limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for workers at a nuclear plant. In other words, you can have up to 5 CT Scans per year before radiation can pose some kind of a hazard to your health. In the case of an unfortunate meltdown, levels of 10,000 mSv are considered the fatal-mark. When the Chernobyl crisis unfolded a level of 50,000 mSv in 10-minutes was measured. Now, how do we get a better understanding of the health-risk associated with radiation? I have attached a chart that pretty much explains the whole ordeal in a very clean way no confusing way. I hope it clears up whatever question you have a about radiation.

• via "Information is beautiful"

* mSv = Milli-Sieverts is the international unit for measuring radiation.

Border Wars...Volleyball style!!!

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave you know about the border tensions between the USA and Mexico. This is a dispute that goes back to the days of the Republic of Texas. While some people are indifferent to the border issues some are very adamant and will do anything in their power to build a wall that, according to an article in National Geographic from May 2007, “…offends people. It Comforts people. And it keeps expanding”. Well!!! Some people, apparently the “indifferent”, have taken sort-of-stand on this dispute. The photograph below shows a group of people playing volleyball. On one side you have Mexican citizens on the other Americans. This game was played at Naco, Arizona in 1979. The interesting thing about this one particular game is that the net was laid along the US-Mexico border!!! I’m not sure which side is which (I’m guessing right is USA, left is Mexico) or who won but who cares…this looks like fun.

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An Educational Moment: When to use i.e. in a sentence

As an bilingual speaker, correct pronunciation is key to communication. In Spanish, pronunciation can be relatively easy since the vowels are pronounced phonetically. In English, well??? that’s a different story.

I have to admit…I’m fascinated with knowing how to properly use words and abbreviations. Case in point: “i.e.”. When do you use i.e. in a sentence? One of my favorite websites, The Oatmeal, just recently came out with a set of comic strips that get this across.

In short, you use i.e. when you want to explain what you just said in a different way, i.e., how the cute little synapses in their brain can perceive it. (See, I’m already using i.e…YEY for me!!!!). Which can include definitions, examples and/or clarifications. For more clarification, i.e. (YES, I know I’m getting out of hand here!), a better and more detail way of explaining i.e., go check out this link (You can thank me later):

• The Oatmeal

Hair & Music: How a hairdo identifies a performer.

We are all identified by something. That something could be a beauty-mark or a mole or perhaps our hair style. In the music industry, a lot of performers are identified by their distinct styles. Stevie Wonder has the dreadlocks, Lionel Richie?…the jerry curls and Vanilla ice…well…forget this wannabe!!! Using the graph below, see if you can make the correlation between the hairdo and the performer. DON’T CHEAT BY READING THE NAME!!! Post your thoughts…

 

 

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Ingenuity…in the face of rejection

I have been working with engineers and architects for about 18 years now and one thing I’ve learn is that designing a project can be fun (especially when you’re the designer) but getting your project approved by a planning, or zoning, or review board can really knock that creative wind out of ya! In the United States planning and review boards can be quite picky depending on where you’re building. Large/densely populated/older cities tend to have strictest of boards. You gotta give it to them…they are trying to preserve what makes that city great. In New York, it take more time to get a sports arena approved & built than it did to gain independence* from Britain (mind you the colonies were fighting an empire).

Another city that has picky planning boards is San Francisco and with good reason…it’s a beautiful city. Recently, someone decided they wanted to build a garage for their home. PROBLEM??? The boards do not allow major modifications to any house in a historical district and this one is part of one. The solution??? Checkout this YouTube video…is so cooolllll!!!!

*wikipedia…information you take with a grain of salt

QuikBeats: Reggae Playlist

Pencil vs. Camera

“Pictures are worth a thousand words” or so they say!!! How true that is. Yet, many people do not come to fully appreciate the beauty behind photographs. Fortunately, for a lot of us, some have turn photography into something to more than a hobby. Their works are truly admirable. The following are some examples of works of art that I have found on the web that really give meaning to the phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
You may have noticed that this week I’ve been feeling pretty “Artsy” .

 

 

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4 - Pencil vs Camera for AOC by `BenHeine on deviantART

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2 - Pencil Vs Camera for "AOC" by `BenHeine on deviantART

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3 - Pencil vs Camera for AOC by `BenHeine on deviantART

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1 - Pencil Vs Camera for "AOC" by `BenHeine on deviantART

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Pencil Vs Camera - 39 by `BenHeine on deviantART

A closer look at Street Art

I’m not the greatest fan of graffiti but I do have to say the people behind it are quite talented and should definitely be considered artist. It always impresses me when I walk around NYC, or any other city, and I see the colorful displays in a wide variety of “canvases”. While it is an art, in its own right, it can also be a expensive addition to a city’s budget. It is estimated that Chicago spends about $5.5 million a year in graffiti removal. An exuberant amount of money when you consider that Chicago is now facing a $487 million budget gap*. When graffiti is done “responsibly” it can transform a “brutalist” landscape into eye candy. That is why I have attached a few pictures of some interesting, to say the least, and some amazing examples of this art form.

* New York Times (link)
** Crack is wack mural in NYC (link)

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Income Tax Form 1040 from 1913

April 15 is the deadline for most Americans to file their Federal individual income tax returns. Passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified February 3, 1913, the 16th amendment established Congress's right to impose a Federal income tax. In 1913, due to generous exemptions and deductions, less than 1 percent of the population paid income taxes at the rate of only 1 percent of net income.

 

[via National Archives iPhone app]

A dying language…and it’s last two speakers aren’t talking to each other

OH BOY! I love people!…The language of Ayapaneco has been spoken in Mexico for centuries. Now, it’s last two fluent speakers refuse to speak it…at least to each other. Manuel Segovia (75) and Isidro Velasquez (69) have, according to neighbors, a long standing feud. No one is sure what’s the problem.

According to Daniel Suslak, a linguistic anthropologist from Indiana University involved in the production of an Ayapaneco dictionary, Mr. Segovia can be a little “prickly” while Mr. Velasquez is stoic.

If you like drama then I suggest you read the full story ^{(link below)}…you can’t make this stuff up!!!

[via Guardian.co.uk thru Neotorama]

Review: Union Restaurant @ Haverstraw, NY

So my sister suggested I put up some of Urbanspoon reviews since, she claims, they are pretty animated. Well…here we go:

As review in Urbanspoon.com

Ready? Here we go...I have been a long time resident of Haverstraw and I have seen it go thru thick and thin. This restaurant is a milestone in the village's renaissance. The atmosphere is very, very relaxing (did somebody say siesta?). I really felt like I was at the Colonial City in Santo Domingo, DR. The food was delicious and well prepared. The waiting time was not bothersome at all. Their selection of drinks (specially the spirited type...YUMMY) was pretty darn good. To add to the great atmosphere Latin music was playing in the background and anything went. From Merengue to Baladas and of course Bachata. The price was not bad and should be, to most people, a once-a-month join. The only thing that can become a problem, on a busy night, is parking otherwise you should be fine. This place is located in the heart a Downtown Haverstraw. I will definitely recommend this place to any of my friends and colleagues. I really hope they can stay in business for decades to come.

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The 9 deadly words used by woman

After being married for over 10 years I can say I’ve learn quite a lot about “reading between the lines”. It is “an honor” to share some of the things I’ve learn and hope you too can learn a few things…my lawyer ask me to say this (I don’t have a lawyer):

I’m not responsible for the misuse of this reference material. If you’re trying it on your spouse you’re on your own and don’t email me about advice. If you know my wife don’t tell her I posted this or I WILL DIE!!!

With that being said…get your read on!!!

1. Fine
   This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five Minutes
   If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour (90 minutes if she hasn’t picked her shoes). The only time five minutes means five minutes is when you’ve been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing
   This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should brace yourself for a cataclysmic event. Any arguments that begin with “nothing” usually end in “fine”. ^{(see word #1)}
4. Go Ahead
   This is a dare, not permission. DON’T DO IT!!!
5. Loud Sigh
   This is actually a word…no really!!! But is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. The “loud sigh” means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here arguing with you about nothing. ^{(See word #3 for the meaning of nothing.)}
6. That’s Okay
   This is one of the most dangerous statements any women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks
   A woman is thanking you, do not question it…or faint. Just say you’re welcome. (WARNING: This is only true, unless she says ‘Thanks a lot’ which is just an explosion of sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome’. That will bring on a ‘whatever’ ^{see word #8}).
8. Whatever
   Is a woman’s way of saying #%@#&!
9. Don’t worry about it, I got it
   Adding to the list of “dangerous statement”…this comes when a woman has told a man to help her many times, but she ends up doing it herself. This will result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ Her response??? see word #3.

Liquid Kiss

This is a personal favorite. I just love the incredible amount of skill required to create this. The way the artist fused “a spill” and human faces is really astonishing…so is the emotion behind it.

[via cslacker.com]

Some of my favorite one-liners…

Who doesn’t have a one-liner?. TV shows are riddle with them. People use ‘em in their everyday jargon. If I had to summarize the effect of one-liners I would have to say…“It’s all good”…that’s my one-liner. Here are a few that I’ve collected from the internet…

1. Laugh at your problems, everybody else does.
2. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
3. If winning isn't everything why do they keep score?
4. This girl rang me up one time, she says "come over, nobody is home", I went over, no one was home!
5. Depression is just anger without enthusiasm.
6. The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
7. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
8. Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?
9. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
10. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Parenting 101

I got this from an email my wife sent me. She got it from a friend who got it from a friend. I thought it was “posting” worthy. Makes me wonder if parenting training and licensing should be part of school curriculum?

How do different cities look at night?

One thing I can’t seem to get my eyes away from are city skylines. I am notorious for deviating from a travel route just to see the “downtown” district of any city in my way. With that in mind, I wanted to show you pictures from different cities around the world. Some of which I would to travel to. As always…enjoy!!!

PicKollage - City Skylines (Part 1) VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

[via Banco de Imagenes Gratuitas]

The fun side of a library!

I'm in love with photography and when you mix it with learning the results can be quite awesome. As is the case with this set of photos taken at the New York City Public library.

 

 

[via Skyscrapercity.com]

Sharing an Edwin McCain song with you from SoundHound

I Could Not Ask for More by Edwin McCain, from SoundHound

I just used SoundHound to find this song. I Could Not Ask for More by Edwin McCain on Live from Richmond 6-30-06 Open in SoundHound View Online © SoundHound Inc. 2011

Sharing a Tracy Chapman song with you from SoundHound

I just used SoundHound to find this song. Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman on New Beginning Open in SoundHound View Online © SoundHound Inc. 2011

Album art provided courtesy of iTunes.

ART: Losing Control

Losing control by *JacobRM on deviantART